Ornamental chain.



PATENTED APR. 23, 1901.

J. O. HODGES.v ORNAMBNTAL CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.29,1904.

W/ TN E55 55 //v vE/v TOR UNITED STATES FATE NT @FFTGE.

JAMES C. HODGES, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO OYRIL A. SMITH, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed December 29, 1904. Serial No. 238,798.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. HoDens, of Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ornamental Chains, (Case A;) and I do hereby declare the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Ornamental chains adapted for use as fob chains, bracelets, belts, and the like have been heretofore constructed by winding a round wire into a spiral, and then interlacing successive spirals by screwing one into the other to form a chain of any desired length.

The object of the present invention is to produce a chain of this general character, but which shall have a novel and distinctive appearance as compared with such chains as heretofore made.

To that end the invention consists primarily in making the exposed surfaces of the convolutions of the spirals flat instead of round. Preferably the flat surfaces of the convolutions are obtained by flattening the Wire prior to winding the spirals therefrom, but if desired the spirals may be wound from round wire and the exposed surfaces of the convolutions subsequently flattened. In either case the operation of flattening will serve to planish and polish the flattened surfaces. A chain made from such spirals will therefore not only present a series of flat surfaces,which will of itself give to the chain a novel and distinctive appearance as compared with a chain made from round wire, but these flattened surfaces being polished Will serve to reflect the light in such a way as to produce a particularly rich and striking effect. Moreover the chain will also have the appearance of being made from a comparatively large and heavy wire, which further adds to the richness of the effect produced.

The invention further consists in forming the convolutions with flat exposed surfaces arranged at an angle to the axis of the spiral, whereby these angularly arranged flat surfaces will serve to product a light and shadow effect which will give to the completed chain a still further novel and distinctive appearance and cause the chain to present different and changing eflects according to the point from which 1t is viewed.

. When the spirals are wound from flatflattened wire upon a mandrel in such manher as to cause the surfaces of the convolutions to assume the desired angular position.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents on an enlarged scale a section of flattened wire wound upon a mandrel, a portion of such spiral being shown in section. Fig. 2 shows one of such spirals screwed into a11- other, one of the spirals being in section. Fig. 3 shows a portion of a chain made by screwing the spirals one into the other.

a represents a flattened wire which is wound upon a mandrel in spiral form, as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in said figure,

the flattened wire is so wound that the exposed surfaces of the convolutions stand at an angle to the axis of the mandrel. The spirals so formed may be of any desired length. Each spiral is practically a screw, and in order to construct a chain from these spirals, it is simply necessary to screw one spiral into another, as shown in Fig. 2, and then to continue the operation, asindicated in Fig. 3, to produce a chain of any length that may be desired. The opposite ends of each spiral maybe bent or turned inward to finish the edge of the chain and to lock the spirals in place.

By reason of the fact that the spirals of the chain are formed of flattened wire, the

surface of the completed chain will on this c account have a different appearance from a chain constructed of spirals formed from round wire, and for the reason that each convolution of the successive spirals presents a flattened surface or extended area to reflect 9 5 the light, and furthermore those exposed flattened surfaces are bright and polished by reason of the planishing e'll'ect produced by the operation of flattening the wire. WVhen the exposed surfaces of the convolutions of the spirals are not only flattened and polished as stated, but are also made to stand at an angle to the axis of the spiral, a still further novel effect is produced.

lVhile it is preferred to make the entire chain of spirals formed from flattened wire as shown, and so that the entire chain will present a uniform appearance throughout its length, it is not necessary to the invention that all the spirals should thus be formed of flattened Wire, and it is obvious that spirals formed of round Wire might beinterspersed With the spirals formed of flattened Wire without departing from the invention. If desired the flattened Wire, either in the operation of flattening or by a subsequent operation, may have any suitable design formed thereon, Which Would serve to give a still further novel appearance. It Will also be understood that the angle at Which the surfaces of the convolutions stand to the axis of the spiral may be varied as desired with corresponding varied eifects in the finished chain. It Will also be understood that if desired the Wire, instead of being flattened on two sides only, as shown in the drawing, may be flattened on four sides, that is, may be made either square or rectangular.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 1. An ornamental chain composed of a series of connected spirals, the convolutions of said spirals having flat exposed surfaces arranged at an angle to the axis of the spiral, substantially as described.

2. 'A spiral for ornamental chains formed from flattened Wire and having the exposed surfaces of its convolutions at an angle to the axis of said spiral, substantially as described.

3. An ornamental chain composed of a series of connected spirals, said spirals being formed from flattened Wire With the exposed surfaces of the convolutions at an angle to the axis of the spiral, substantially as de scribed.

JAMES C. HODGES.

Witnesses: I

W. H. THURSTON, J. H. THURsTo 

